Awning Failure
Submitted: Monday, Apr 30, 2007 at 18:46
ThreadID:
44934
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Replies:
7
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Hopper51
Last Thursday morning while on holidays at
Venus Bay on the Eyre Peninsula rain finally fell during the night - lovely gentle rain. Around 6am there was a loud crash and the van shook. On investigation I found the awning had collapsed. The aluminium tube that the awning rolls out on had failed in the middle partially tearing the whole awning assembly off the wall of the van.
The awning had been setup with around 10-15 degree downward slope but water must pooled somewhere on top to cause the failure. My concern is that I cannot see how more than 5-10 litres of water could have pooled, so we are talking about around 10kg being enough to cause a major failure. If this is the case the aluminium tube is simply not strong enough.
The Jayco representative said that anytime there are windy or wet conditions the awning should be retracted as stated in the operator's manual so it is not covered by warranty - end of story. One would have to ask "What is the point of having an awning if you have have to pack everything away as soon as it even looks like being windy or wet?"
Needless to say I will not be replacing it with another Carefree (now theres an oxymoron) awning. Aussie Traveller make an awning (the Coolibah) that can be left up in all but the most severe conditions so that is what we will be putting back on the van even if the insurance doesn't cover all the cost.
Chris W
Reply By: Member - Peter R (QLD) - Monday, Apr 30, 2007 at 19:06
Monday, Apr 30, 2007 at 19:06
I was advised by"the awning man" in
Brisbane to always have setting on one side 1 rung lower than the other and , if heavy rain likely, to retract it.
Was your setting like this?
Pedro
AnswerID:
236920
Follow Up By: Hopper51 - Monday, Apr 30, 2007 at 19:14
Monday, Apr 30, 2007 at 19:14
No, both sides were set the same. The rain was not heavy - just nice and gentle - and there was absolutely no wind.
FollowupID:
497955
Follow Up By: disco1942 - Monday, Apr 30, 2007 at 23:32
Monday, Apr 30, 2007 at 23:32
You probably need it 2-3 notches lower for safety.
The problem is not the 5-10 litres of water that you estimate. When you get that amount of water trapped behind the roller the plastic stretches and bellies down. The result is many times that amount and that is serious weight.
I have resisted installing a roll out awning as I don't think much of hanging them off pop-tops. Last year I got an Aussie Traveler - Coolibah. It has stood up in furious winds when the roll out ones had been long rolled in. You won't be disappointed by getting one, they take a little longer to erect but you save in the long run by not having to roll them in in windy weather.
PeterD
FollowupID:
498054
Reply By: Member - Peter R (QLD) - Monday, Apr 30, 2007 at 19:17
Monday, Apr 30, 2007 at 19:17
Perhaps the one rung lower than the other might be the answer?
Pedro
AnswerID:
236927
Follow Up By: Hopper51 - Monday, Apr 30, 2007 at 19:20
Monday, Apr 30, 2007 at 19:20
Why didn't you tell me this a week ago?
FollowupID:
497957
Follow Up By: StephenF10 - Monday, Apr 30, 2007 at 19:28
Monday, Apr 30, 2007 at 19:28
This makes sense. Water also pools INSIDE the tube adding to the weight it has to carry.
Stephen.
FollowupID:
497962
Reply By: Member - Peter R (QLD) - Monday, Apr 30, 2007 at 19:37
Monday, Apr 30, 2007 at 19:37
Sorry !
Experience comes just after you need it.
Old saying but very true.
Suggest you give Bob "the awning man" a ring at 0411139340 a ring just to confirm what is the best method to overcome problem in the future.
Pedro
AnswerID:
236938
Reply By: Peter - Monday, Apr 30, 2007 at 21:09
Monday, Apr 30, 2007 at 21:09
I've always set the awning up with one corner lower than the other. Also slope it away from your main entrance. We had rain a few weeks ago up at Kenilworth (it was the only serious rain we've seen all year), and the awning drained really well. Couldn't walk out from underneath because the water was running off like a continuous sheet of water. The awning wasn't secured to the ground and the 2 centre supports weren't in use at the time.
Peter
AnswerID:
236982
Reply By: Member - Raymond S (QLD) - Monday, Apr 30, 2007 at 21:38
Monday, Apr 30, 2007 at 21:38
Agree with Peter lower one end this will not allow water to pool in the middle & weigh your annex down in the middle &cause heart ache when it collapses. Ihave had aussie traveller annex & the same goes lower one end. I sometime believe some folk forget to look at things in a logical & practical manner. Yes some times experience can be expensive but sh........... happens.
AnswerID:
236992
Reply By: D-Jack - Monday, Apr 30, 2007 at 22:25
Monday, Apr 30, 2007 at 22:25
Sorry to rub it in, but we use the same technique on our camper trailer tent section and awning, fail safe.. Sorry like I said... but I would have thought that it would be able to withstand a little more weight - but light rain still accumulates in the middle, it just take longer
AnswerID:
237005
Reply By: Member -Dodger - Tuesday, May 01, 2007 at 00:31
Tuesday, May 01, 2007 at 00:31
Yes we do the same with our Carefree awning, IE lower one end 2 notches lower than the other. The end farthest from door.
We also have the greatest angle we can get by having the outside of the awning just clearing our heads as we walk under. This put a reasonably steep fall for the rain to run off and usually does rather quickly at the lowest end. It also gives max shade from the sun when needed.
In short you have learn't an expensive lesson but then sh does happen.
Hope your next awning fares better.
AnswerID:
237033
Follow Up By: David N. - Wednesday, May 02, 2007 at 08:38
Wednesday, May 02, 2007 at 08:38
Sorry about your bad luck. Agree with all of the above.
I ALWAYS have one end at least one if not two notches lower, even more if rain is predicted.
You'd be amazed how much water they will hold otherwise, and it then gets worse and worse as the weight increases and the vinyl stretches.
I've seen a few over the years with literally a hundred or so litres which have not failed- but must have been very close to doing so.
Cheers
FollowupID:
498362